Systems and methods for mobile power conditioning platform

• US 9,463,696 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2012
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Teichmann, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnett, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/552,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20140021779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/55 Capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/56 Mechanical storage means, e.g. fly wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/008 using hydrogen as energy vector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Systems and methods for a mobile power conditioning platform are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, a mobile power conditioning platform is positioned proximate to a power grid, coupled to the power grid via an offboard power coupling, coupled to an onboard electrical system of a vehicle via a vehicle power coupling, and transfers electric power between the power grid and the onboard electrical system. One or more onboard generators of the vehicle may modify operation at least partly in response to the transfer of electric power.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mobile power conditioning platform configured to transfer electrical power over a first period of time between a power grid and a first vehicle at a first location, the mobile power conditioning platform further configured to move to a second location after the first period of time and to transfer electrical power over a second period of time between the power grid and a second vehicle at the second location;

an offboard power coupling configured to couple the mobile power conditioning platform to the power grid;

an onboard power coupling configured to couple the power conditioning unit to an onboard electrical system of a respective one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle;

a first datalink that communicatively couples the mobile power conditioning platform to at least one of the power grid or a utility company associated with the power grid, the first datalink operative to communicate information between the mobile power conditioning platform and the at least one of the power grid or the utility company; and

a second datalink that communicatively couples the mobile power conditioning platform to the respective one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle, the second datalink operative to at least receive in the mobile power conditioning platform, a notification from the respective one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle indicating an anticipated load and requesting sufficient operating reserves be brought online to meet an expected change in power demand due to the anticipated load.

2. The system of claim 1, the mobile power conditioning platform further configured to accept electrical power from the offboard power coupling and output electrical power to the onboard power coupling.

3. The system of claim 1, the mobile power conditioning platform further configured to accept electrical power from the onboard power coupling and output electrical power to the offboard power coupling.

4. The system of claim 1, the mobile power conditioning platform further configured to accept power at least in part from a power storage unit located in the mobile power conditioning platform.

5. The system of claim 1, the mobile power conditioning platform further configured to decouple at least a portion of the offboard power coupling, the onboard power coupling, or both at least partly in response to a set of pre-determined conditions.

6. The system of claim 5, the set of pre-determined conditions comprising a ground fault, a short circuit, an overload, or a change in alternating current frequency.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile power conditioning platform is configured to convert alternating current (AC) electrical power having a first set of characteristics to AC electrical power having a second set of characteristics, wherein each of the first and the second set of characteristics comprises at least one of a frequency, a voltage, an amperage, a phase, or a waveform.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a propulsion unit, the propulsion unit comprising:

one or more electric motors coupled to one or more wheels or conveyors of the mobile power conditioning platform; and

operator controls configured to direct the relocation of the mobile power conditioning platform from the first location to the second location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile power conditioning platform is configured as a waterborne vehicle that includes a propulsion unit, the propulsion unit comprising:

one or more electric motors coupled to a propeller configured for propelling the waterborne vehicle over water.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle is a first ship moored at the first location, the second vehicle is a second ship moored at the second location, and the mobile power conditioning platform is a waterborne vehicle that transfers electrical power between the electrical grid and the first ship over the first period of time, and transfers electrical power between the electrical grid and the second ship over the second period of time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the waterborne vehicle is one of a barge or a skiff.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first datalink or the second datalink is a wireless datalink.

13. A method, comprising:

coupling a mobile power conditioning platform to a power grid carrying electrical power;

coupling the mobile power conditioning platform to a first onboard electrical system of a first vehicle parked at a first location;

using a first datalink by the mobile power conditioning platform, to at least obtain a notification from the first vehicle indicating an anticipated load and requesting sufficient operating reserves be brought online to meet an expected change in power demand due to the anticipated load;

transferring electrical power between the power grid and the first onboard electrical system of the first vehicle at least in part on the basis of the expected change in power demand;

moving the mobile power conditioning platform to a second location;

coupling the mobile power conditioning platform to a second onboard electrical system of a second vehicle parked at the second location;

using the first datalink by the mobile power conditioning platform, to obtain power demand information from the second vehicle; and

transferring electrical power between the power grid and the second onboard electrical system of the second vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, the transferring comprising accepting from the power grid, AC electrical power having a first set of one or more characteristics and outputting AC electrical power having a second set of one or more characteristics.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

using a second datalink by the mobile power conditioning platform to communicate with at least one of the power grid or an electric utility associated with the power grid.